Ulmiz
Origin of the name Ulmiz
Ulmiz appears in 1200 as « Hulmeis ». In French the form « Ormeis » is found in 1390, and the village is now called Ormey. The name is unexplained.[1][2]
Founding of Ulmiz
Ulmiz lies in a flat hollow of the Biberen valley, between the Oberfeld plateau at 550 m and the Bibern bridge at 490 m. The village belonged to the joint lordship of Murten (Morat) and to the parish of Ferenbalm, to which it remained attached after the Reformation. From the Middle Ages it held rights in the Galm forest. The power of the Biberen drove the farmers' mills. Ulmiz has been part of the municipality of Gurmels since the merger of 1 January 2026.[1][2]
History of Ulmiz
1200. First mention, as « Hulmeis ».[1]
1334. Niklaus von Lindach hands over property at Ulmiz to the Knights of St John of Münchenbuchsee.[1]
1453. A chapel is mentioned, a daughter church of Ferenbalm.[1]
1476. In the night of 21 to 22 June, on the eve of the battle of Morat, the Confederates pitch camp on Ulmiz land.[2]
16th century. Besides mills, a forge and a sawmill are recorded.[1]
1591. A great fire strikes the village.[1]
1613. Ulmiz has 13 houses.[1]
1680. Schooling begins.[1]
1798-1848. Ulmiz leaves the joint lordship of Murten in 1798. It belongs to the Helvetic district of Murten until 1803, then to the district of Murten until 1848.[1]
1811. In exchange for its rights in the Galm forest, the municipality receives some 25 ha of woodland.[1]
Early 19th century. The inhabitants buy out three feudal dues.[1]
19th century. An oil mill, a bark mill, a tobacco mill and other workshops join the mills.[1]
2011. Two classes of the regional school association are taught in the schoolhouse.[1]
2018. Pupils from Ulmiz begin attending the lower secondary school in Gurmels.[3]
2025. On 9 February Ulmiz accepts the merger with Gurmels with 55 % of the vote. In an earlier consultative vote, 53 % had preferred Gurmels and 47 % Murten. The Grand Council approves the merger on 23 May by 93 votes to 0.[3]
2026. On 1 January Ulmiz becomes a village of the municipality of Gurmels.[3]
Population of Ulmiz
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1428 | 17 hearths |
| 1811 | 230 |
| 1850 | 397 |
| 1900 | 420 |
| 1950 | 343 |
| 1970 | 285 |
| 2000 | 359 (or 353) |
| 2010 | 420 |
| 2020 | 432 |
| 2025 | 429 |
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ulmiz » (Hans Herren, version du 25.01.2013)
- Commune de Gurmels, « Ulmiz » (histoire des villages)
- Grand Conseil du canton de Fribourg, Bulletin officiel des séances, séance du 23.05.2025, décret 2024-DIAF-28 « Approbation de la fusion des communes de Gurmels et Ulmiz »
- Service de la statistique du canton de Fribourg (SStat), « Population des communes, de 1900 à 2025 » (T01-02-03), population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Other villages near Ulmiz
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